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Each day, 46 children are diagnosed with cancer.

  • Cancer remains the number one disease killer of children; more than genetic anomalies, cystic fibrosis, and AIDS combined.
  • The risk of any single individual developing cancer by age 20 is approximately 1 in 330.
  • In the United States, approximately 10,500 children under age 15 and 3,700 adolescents ages 15-19 are newly diagnosed with cancer each year. 

The overall survival from pediatric cancer is estimated to be 75%-80%, and the majority of these are considered “cured” (In the early 1950s less than 10 percent, and before the 1970s less than 50% of children with cancer could be cured).
 
Childhood leukemia once was a most dreaded disease that meant almost certain death for a child diagnosed with it. Today, thanks to advances in research and medical treatments, over 80% of childhood leukemia patients survive!


  • Donating PBSC or Marrow
  • Recovery and Follow-up

Donating PBSC or Marrow

There are two methods of donation: peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) and bone marrow. The patient's doctor chooses the donation method that is best for the patient.

PBSC donation is a nonsurgical procedure that takes place at a blood center or outpatient hospital unit. For 5 days leading up to donation, you will be given injections of a drug called filgrastim to increase the number of blood-forming cells in your bloodstream. Your blood is then removed through a needle in one arm and passed through a machine that separates out the blood-forming cells. The remaining blood is returned to you through the other arm. Your blood-forming cells are back to their normal levels within 4 to 6 weeks. Marrow donation is a surgical outpatient procedure that takes place at a hospital. You will receive anesthesia and feel no pain during the donation. Doctors use a needle to withdraw liquid marrow from the back of your pelvic bone. The marrow replaces itself completely within 4 to 6 weeks..

Recovery and follow-up

Recovery times vary depending on the individual and type of donation. Most donors are able to return to work, school, and other activities within 1 to 7 days after donation.


PBSC donors can expect to experience a headache, or bone or muscle aches for several days before collection, a side effect of the filgrastim injections. These effects disappear shortly after collection. Most PBSC donors report that they feel completely recovered within 2 weeks of donation. Marrow donors can expect to feel some soreness in their lower back for a few days or longer following the donation. Most marrow donors report that they feel completely recovered within 3 weeks of donation.